Aircraft Seat Heat Transfer Element for Thermal Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft seat designs with fibre-reinforced shell components, while providing rigidity and protection for electronic devices, suffer from inadequate thermal energy dissipation, leading to overheating and reduced system reliability and passenger comfort due to the thermally insulating effect of the shell material.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a heat-transfer element with higher thermal conductivity than the shell component, which absorbs thermal energy from the cavity and dissipates it to the external environment, thereby improving heat transfer without compromising the structural integrity or stability of the shell component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a fibre-reinforced shell component is used to form the seat base, then the rigidity and mechanical strength are improved, but the thermal energy dissipation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by integrating a metal heat-transfer element with the fibre-reinforced plastic shell component. The metal element provides high thermal conductivity for heat dissipation, while the fibre-reinforced shell maintains structural rigidity. This composite approach allows both materials to contribute their advantageous properties without compromising either strength or thermal performance.
2Strength
If the cavity is closed to protect electronic devices, then the mechanical protection is improved, but the thermal energy dissipation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The metal heat-transfer element acts as an intermediary between the closed cavity and the external environment. It provides a thermal conduction path from the electronic devices inside the protected cavity to the exterior, enabling heat dissipation without requiring the cavity to be open or compromising the mechanical protection provided by the fibre-reinforced shell.
3Temperature
If ventilation apertures are added to improve heat dissipation, then the thermal energy dissipation is improved, but the structural stability and rigidity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical ventilation system (apertures and air flow) with a thermal conduction-based heat transfer system. The metal heat-transfer element conducts heat away from the cavity through solid-state thermal conduction, eliminating the need for ventilation openings that would compromise the structural integrity and rigidity of the fibre-reinforced shell component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively dissipates thermal energy from the cavity to the external environment, preventing overheating and maintaining the strength properties of the shell component, ensuring reliable operation and passenger comfort while avoiding the need for additional ventilation apertures.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat-transfer element (8) comprising an inner and an outer portion (9, 10) being provided, the inner portion (9) being assigned to the cavity (6) and being in contact with the functional element (7) in order to absorb thermal energy generated by the functional element (7), the outer portion (10) being assigned to an external environment (12) of the shell component (18) in order to dissipate the thermal energy
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an aircraft seat having a seat base, a seat unit, and a floor attachment assembly, where a first side of the seat base is configured to be fastened to the seat unit, and a second side of the seat base is configured to be fastened to the floor attachment assembly, and the floor attachment assembly is configured to be mechanically connected to a floor structure of an aircraft in order to fasten the aircraft seat to the aircraft, where the seat base is formed by at least one flexurally rigid shell component, where the shell component has a cavity for receiving at least one functional element, with the cavity being closed. A first heat-transfer element having an inner portion and an outer portion is provided, with the inner portion being assigned to the cavity and being in contact with the functional element in order to absorb thermal energy generated by the functional element, and the outer portion being assigned to an external environment of the shell component in order to dissipate the thermal energy absorbed from the functional element to the environment.